Universal pouring spout



Feb. 16, 1932. P. H. FLAUTT 1,845,966

UNIVERSAL POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 5, 1929 Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .WJMM; Hum-.- mw... M...

I'OR'IER H. FLAUTT, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASfiIG-NOR 0F ONE-HALF TO FRANCIS G. YINGLING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND UNIVERSAL POURING SPOTJ'T Application filed September 5, 1929. Serial No. 390,627.

The present invention relates to an improved form of pouring spout for friction top cans.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pouring spout having frictional engaging means thereon to fit various sized cans having different sized openings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans, having means therein for the return of the syrup into the body of the can that may drain from the inner portion of the. pouring spout member.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pouring'spout for friction top cans having means thereon for the universal adaptation of the same to various sized openings in friction top cans or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans having yielding means for universal adaptation to various sized openings in different sized friction top cans.

Still another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans having yielding means that move in a direction transversely to the axis of said pouring spout and friction top can for the purpose of engaging the frictional engaging edge surrounding the openings in various sized friction top cans.

Another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans having finger engaging means for the purpose of withdrawing the pouring spout can engaging means.

Another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans with a plurality of ver tically extending portions for the purpose of engaging said pouring spout to can openings of different sizes, each of which is adapted to tightly engage the inner edge of the aforementioned friction top can openings.

Another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans with a plurality of vertically extending portions and means thereon for the purpose of adapting said vertically extending portions to various sized openings in friction top cans, and means for causing said vertically extending portions to yieldingly engage the inner edge of said friction top can openings.

Another object and purpose of the present invention is to provide a pouring spout for friction top cans, having means thereon for universal adaptation of same to various sized openings in friction top cans, and the same having means thereon for causing the undersurface of said pouring spout to tightly engage the upper surface of the friction top can formed about its opening for the purpose of preventing leakage of the contents of the can between these surfaces.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a plan View of the pouring spout as applied to a friction top can.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction as indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan view of the pouring spout, the same having been removed from the friction top can.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the invention is shown as applied to a friction top can 1 the same having an opening 2, formed by a downwardly depending annular flange 3. This flange 3, is for the purpose of frictionally engaging the well known friction top for cans of this particular type. It is the purpose of the present invention to take the place of this top, allowing the same to he completely discarded and is particulan ly adaptable for use with cans having table syrup therein. Preparatory to using a can of syrup upon the table at home the above mentioned friction top can, may have its friction top removech and in the place thereof the present invention substituted by inserting the same in the opening 2, of the can.

The contents, or syrup may then be poured from the can with all the convenience of a syrup pitcher, butwithout the inconvenience of having to transfer the syrup from one container to another. V

The pouring spout invention consists of a top 4, a spout 40, an upwardly disposed flange portion 5, which may be termed the body 6, said annular flange portion 5 extending 'in--- wardly, as shown particularly in Figure 2, forming the inwardly disposed annular por tion 7 the top surface 8 of which may be formed on an angle, preferably sloping in wardly towards the axis of the pouring spout, as shown, for the purpose of causing any syrup that may form on the inner walls of the pouring spout to pour back into the can. The inwardly disposed annular flange portion 7, has extending therefrom and integral therewith a series of projecting arms '10. These arms each have a downwardly depending portion 11, which acts as a bearing and support'for the can engaging mechanism 12. This mechanism consists of a plurality of can opening engaging members 14,

15'and 16, each of which is carried by the arms 17, 18 and 19. These armsin turn are carried in the bearings 20, 21 and 22 in the downwardly depending portions 11. The movable arms 17, 18 and 19., at their inner ends are turned upwardly forming finger gripping members 23, 24 and 25. Referring to the can opening engaging members 14, 15 and 16, it will be noted particularly as shown in Figure 2 and reference being made to the can engaging member 14 for illustrative purposes, that the outer surfaces 26, 27 and 28 of each of these members, is formed on an angle for the purpose of increasing the gripping effect of the can engagingmechanism to the downwardly depending frictional engaging edge 29 efthe. opening usually found in friction top cans. Positioned betweenthe can engaging members 14, 15 and 16, and the downwardly depending portions 11', are springsBO, 31' and 82, for the purpose of exerting an outward thrust to the canengaging members, and to create the necessary grip V ping force to these members to hold the pouring spout in the can opening. For the purpose of keeping these springs centered the same may be forced, over and carried by the boss, or extension 33, of the downwardly depending; members 11. Referring to the can engaging members, 14, 15 and 16, it will be seen that the tapered surfaces 26, 27 and 28 are on such an angle as to have the tendency when engaging the frictional engaging edge 29 of the can to pull the under surface 34 of the pouring spout down to and in engagement withithe upper surface 35-forming the edge about'the opening'in the can, thus forming a seal around the opening of the can and the body of the pouring spout for the purpose of preventing any leakageof the contents of :thecan when'the same is being pouredthrough the pouring spout. v

s will be noted, particular reference being made to Figure 2, that by withdrawing the can engaging members 14,15 and 16 by means of the finger f gripping members 23, 24 and 25, the pouring spout may be readily withdrawn from the can and placed on another can having an opening of a difi'erent size, which variation in size may be anything between the extreme outward stroke of the can engaging members 14, 15 and 16, and the extreme inner stroke or position thereof, thus allowing for a universal adaptation of the present invention of pouring s out to friction top cans having-various size openings- In Figure 2the can engaging member 14 is shown in fine dotted lines moved inwardly for the purpose of engaging a smaller sized opening in .a frictiontop can. It may be readily seen that any amount of can gripping and sealing efiect may be exerted by increasing the strength of the compression springs 30, 31 and 32 and the angularity of the outer surfaces 26, 27 and 28 of the can engaging members The top- 4 may behingedly engaged tothe body portion 6, of the pouring spout, as shown at 36, andfor purposes of keeping the top closed the-hinged portion 36 may be provided with-a coil spring 37, as shown.

It is understood that varioustypes of can gripping means may be used for the general purpose ofthe present invention, but it has been found that the present structure is cheaper to manufacture, easier to keep clean becauseall the moving parts are well exposed, thus making-the unit more sanitary.

I have-thus described myinvention specifically and in detail, in order that its nature and operationmay be fully understood; however, the specific terms herein are used' descriptively rather than in their limited sense, and the scope-of theinvention is defined in the claims. c

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is: a r

1; A pouring spout for friction top cans having a plurality of vertically extending portions thereon, ;each having means for adapting; same to tightly: engage the inner edge of various sized openings in: friction top cans, said: vertically extending portions having means-thereon fordrawing saidpouring spout down to tightly engage the upper surface of the can formed about the opening thereof. 6 1 T 2. A pouring spout for'friction topncans having a: plurality 'of' spring actuated portions thereon,;each having means for. adapting same to tightly engage the inner-edge ofvarious sizedopenings'in frictiontop'c'ans, said plurality of spring actuated portions having means thereon fordrawingsaid pour.- ingspout down to tightly engage the upper surface of the can formed about the opening. thereof a 1 i 3. A pouring spout-for friction topcans having aplurality of: vertically extending spring actuated. (portions thereon, each 112V! ing means for a aptingn same? to tightly en gage the inner edge of various sized openings in friction top cans.

4. A pouring spout for friction top cans having a plurality of spring actuated portions thereon, means for adapting same to tightly engage the inner edge of various sized openings in friction top cans, means cooperating with said spring actuated portions for drawing said pouring spout down to tight engagement With the upper surface of the can formed about the opening thereof.

5. A pouring spout for friction top cans having a plurality of spring actuated extending portions thereon, each having means for adapting same to tightly engage the inner edge of various sized openings in friction top cans, means Within said pouring spout for causing accumulated syrup that may form on the inner Walls thereof to gravitate back and into the can.

6. A single closure for various sized friction top can openings havin a pouring spout thereon, yielding means on the bottom of said closure for engaging the edges formed about said various sized openings in said friction top cans, said edge-engaging means holding the closure over the said can openings of various sizes.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 4th day of September, 1929.

PORTER H. FLAUTT. 

